PHIL JONES – the man Sir Alex Ferguson was hoping would ease his counter-attacking fear – is losing his battle to be fit for United’s Champions League showdown.

Jones impressed in the first leg as a defensive midfield player and Ferguson was planning to use him in a similar role in the second leg at Old Trafford.

But Jones is still struggling to shake off the ankle injury that has kept him out of the last two games and his chances are rated at only 30 per cent.

Ferguson is not confident that United can keep the clean sheet that would be enough to put them through, thanks to the away goal from the 1-1 draw in the Bernabeu.

He said: “Clean sheets are vital – if we can get one we’re through, but I think both teams will score. I just hope we score more than them. It could not be anything else but a great game.”

Ferguson has several key selection decisions to make. Seven players look certain of their places – David De Gea, Rafael Da Silva, Rio Ferdinand – who is expected to recover from a bout of flu – Patrice Evra, Michael Carrick, Wayne Rooney and Robin van Persie. That leaves four positions to fill.

Depending on Jones, Ferguson then has to decide whether to keep Jonny Evans, so impressive in the first leg, alongside Ferdinand or recall Nemanja Vidic for his experience.

Ryan Giggs could make his 1,00th senior appearance of the bench against Madrid

Clean sheets are vital – if we can get one we’re through, but I think both teams will score.

Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson

Ryan Giggs “will be involved” but Ferguson did not say whether his 1,000th appearance in senior football will be from the start or from the substitutes’ bench.

He also has to consider the claims of Saturday’s hat-trick hero Shinji Kagawa,Danny Welbeck, scorer of the vital away goal during a hard-working display in the Bernabeu, as well as Tom Cleverley, Anderson and the three wingers Antonio Valencia, Nani and Ashley Young.